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Nduma Defense of Congo
The Nduma Defense of Congo (French: Nduma défense du Congo or NDC, also known as Mai-Mai Sheka) is a militia that operates in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the Kivu conflict.[1][2] Mai-Mai groups are militia unique to the eastern DRC, formed ostensibly to defend villages from attacks from Rwandan forces and Rwandan-backed rebel groups. However, Mai-Mai groups have been accused of sexual violence, looting, and fighting all sides including fellow militias, the DRC Army, and the United Nations.[3] The NDC was formed in 2009 by former minerals trader Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, an ethnic Nyanga.[1] Sheka claims the group was formed to liberate the mines of Walikale Territory in North Kivu.[1] According to the United Nations, Sheka commanded a mass rape of at least 387 women, men, and children over a three-day span in Walikale in 2010.[1][4] This was said to be a punishment for the villagers collaborating with Congo government forces.[4] In 2011, Sheka was added to a United Nations Security Council sanctions list and a warrant was issued for his arrest in the DRC.[2] On 12 November 2012 Pinga was captured by NDC and remained under its control as of March 2013.[5] In November 2013 NDC withdrew from Pinga and kidnapped dozens of women as sex slaves.[6] In July 2014 armed forces launched offensive against NDC recapturing Kashebere-Walikale road including its stronghold of Buniyampuli.[7] In 2017, Sheka surrendered to the DRC in North Kivu.[4] On 24 November 2020, a military court has sentenced Sheka to life for war crimes including murder, sexual slavery and child soldier recruitment.[8] The UN Security Council has documented numerous cases of the NDC recruiting child soldiers. According to a 2014 report, at least 33 children separated from the group.[9] They said their roles included carrying ammunition and acting as talisman, as well as "combatants, cooks, marijuana farmers and tax collectors."[9] The children were held to the group through a mixture of threats to their family or the payment of $10–12 per month.[9] A 2014 splinter saw the new group NCD-Renouveau created by former NDC deputy Guidon (or Guido).[9][10] See also
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Information related to Nduma Defense of Congo |
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